Disposable threaded needle



Sept. 14, 1965 D. N. DUFFNEY 3,206,086

DISPOSABLE THREADED NEEDLE v Filed July 24, 1963 INVE NTOR DAVID N. DUFFNEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,206,436 DISPGSABLE THREADED NEEDLE David N. Buifney, 971 Greenville Ave., Greenvilie, RJ. Filed July 24, 1963, Ser. No. 297,340 3 Claims. (Cl. 223-102) This invention relates to a disposable needle having a thread secured therein which may be used one time and discarded.

It frequently happens that a button may come loose :or detached from a garment, and it is desirable to sew the same in position, and a needle and thread is needed for this operation which may not be conveniently accessible.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a small package containing a needle and thread which may be easily stored in the pocket or purse of a person to be readily available should occasion require.

Another object of the invention is to provide a needle which need not be threaded but will be in a condition for immediate use by the one carrying the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide the needle and thread sufiiciently inexpensively so that after one use the same may be discarded.

Another object of the invention is to make the needle of such material that it may be easily sterilized and packaged if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide such packaging of the thread that the same may be carried by the needle by clipping the same in position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete needle and the package of thread;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view partly in section on a greatly enlarged scale to better show the structure of the needle;

FIG. 3 is a section showing the thread package and needle body as detached;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the parts in attached position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the unit upon which the thread may be Wound; and

FIG. 6 is a modified view showing a double thread as attached in position to the needle.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the body portion of the needle which may be formed of plastic such, for instance, as some of the vinyl resins or any of the resins which may become suficiently hard and rigid or stifr' to enable them to be forced through a garment. The shape of the needle will conform to any of such desired shapes as are now utilized in metal needles depending upon the particular use to which they are to be put, but generally the needle will be circular in cross section and tapered to a long thin point at its piercing end 11 and tapered more abruptly at its trailing end 12. As the needle is formed preferably by molding, a strand of thread 14 will be embedded in the trailing end 12 of the needle to extend into the body of the needle sufficiently so that the molded stock of the needle will have good grip upon the thread or strand.

3,206,086 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 In FIG. 2 I have illustrated this strand 14 as extending substantially centrally axially of the cylindrical body a distance to give it a sufiicient extent for the strand to become firmly attached to the needle; thus it is unnecessary to thread the needle as the strand is attached thereto.

In order to package the strand or thread 14, I have provided a unit designated generally 15 comprising a cylindrical core 16 with clips 17 at either end thereof also molded from plastic material, the clips comprising a pair of jaws 18 and 19 having a cylindrical inner shape and of a size to snugly fit and grip the body portion 10 of the needle, the jaws being flared outwardly as at 20 so that they may be forced over the body of the needle into a position to clip on to the needle as shown in FIG. 1.

Upon this cylindrical core 16 1 wind the strand 14 as shown at 21 in FIG. 1. The length wound thereon will be sufiicient for sewing a button or for such other special purpose as may be required. In use it is merely necessary to unclip the unit 15 holding the thread so that the thread may unwind as the unit is suspended by the thread. Thus the needle with the thread secured thereto is in immediate condition for use.

In some instances it is desirable to coat or plate, such as by vacuum plating, the leading or pointed end of the needle with some sort of a metal which I designate 22 and which may be on the order of about .001 inch thick. This plating provides a somewhat stifier pointed end and one which may be formed somewhat sharper than the end of the plastic and thus one which will pierce certain fabrics better. This plating, While it may extend the entire length of the needle, extends along the point and a short Ways as at 22' along the cylindrical body.

In FIG. 6 I have illustrated strands 23 and 24 comprising a double thread which may be molded into the body as at 25 so as to provide a double thread for use instead of a single thread where occasion may require.

I claim:

1. A disposal needle comprising a plastic moldable body in the shape of a needle, a strand attached to one end thereof by being embedded therein to secure it in position, a core, the free length of strand outwardly from the body being assembled about said core and means for detachably securing said core to said body.

2. A disposable needle as in claim 1 wherein the end opposite the end to which the strand is attached is coated with metal.

3. A disposable needle as in claim 1 wherein said means comprises spaced resilient fingers secured to the core to frictionally grip the body of the needle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,723 7/88 Smith 223-102 2,622,776 12/52 Beverino 223-102 2,883,896 4/59 Dawson 223102 2,899,768 8/59 Steinauer 4325 X FOREIGN PATENTS 16,966 1/12 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPOSAL NEEDLE COMPRISING A PLASTIC MOLDABLE BODY IN THE SHAPE OF A NEEDLE, A STRAND ATTACHED TO ONE END THEREOF BY BEING EMBEDDED THEREIN TO SECURE IT IN POSITION, A CORE, THE FREE LENGTH OF STRAND OUTWARDLY FROM THE BODY BEING ASSEBLED ABOUT SAID CORE AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID CORE TO SAID BODY. 